Faction seizes a Housatonic area

There was an interesting article in my Boston Globe feed this morning about the ongoing rivalry between two different groups of Schaghticoke Indians. I can spell 'Schaghticoke' from memory because it was the name of my junior high in New Milford, CT, but I had no idea that the tribe had a res in the next town over...

It's the usual infighting about US recognition and whether to build a casino. That would definitely alter the populous Western section of CT in big ways.

(Globe Article)

Faction seizes a Housatonic area
Dispute widens for rivals in tribe

By Associated Press | January 2, 2006

KENT, Conn. -- A tribal faction has seized the Schaghticoke Indian reservation to develop property near along the Housatonic River.

Members of the faction say they have plans for houses and for unspecified "economic development" in the region.

On Friday, Schaghticoke Indian Tribe members took over the tribe's office and picnic pavilion, forcing out the rival Schaghticoke Tribal Nation.

The two groups, which each claim to represent the tribe that has lived in Kent since the 1700s, have feuded since the 1970s.

"The reservation belongs to all Schaghticokes," Alan Russell, the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe faction's chairman, said Saturday. "We want to start our economic development program here."

Russell's group, which is seeking federal recognition, says it is the true Schaghticoke tribe. Like the rival Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe also is interested in developing a casino or bingo hall.

The reservation, which was once more than 1,000 acres but has been reduced during hundreds of years of land sales, has been at the center of contention over tribal recognition. The Bureau of Indian Affairs in October denied federal recognition of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation.

State politicians and Kent officials strongly opposed recognition, fearing the tribe would try to open a casino.

Schaghticoke Tribal Nation members said Saturday that they were pulling back because they had no interest in clashing with Russell's group. They said they are focused on a court appeal of the Indian Bureau's decision.

"We've got bigger battles to fight," said Michael Pane, vice chairman of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. "I'm just shrugging my shoulders."

Schaghticoke Tribal Nation Chief Richard Velky said Russell's takeover was "ridiculous at this stage of the game."

"We are looking for federal recognition," he said.

© Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company